Episcopal priests in Mississippi no longer need to seek the bishop's permission to perform weddings for same-sex couples.

The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi announced what he called the "significant" change in a June 3 letter to churches.

The Rt. Rev. Brian Seage said clergy members still have "the discretion to marry, or not marry, any specific couple for any reason."

He said he respects priests who are unable to perform same-sex weddings because of their own conscience or because they believe it would cause irreparable harm to their congregation's unity. However, Seage asks them to tell him about any same-sex couple who wants to marry so arrangements can be made for another Episcopal congregation to offer the services.

Episcopal bishops in other places had already made similar announcements.